The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-02-17

Synopsis Of the Proceedings Of the Animal Meet.
ing The New Onlcers-The Resolutions That
Form the Basis of the Alliance Platform for
1887

Form the Basis of the Alliance Platform for
1887.
The annual meeting OF the state farmers
alliance was held in the capitol at st. Paul.
Owing to the weather the attendance was
not so large as usual. The sessions were
prolonged several days, and a great deal
OF time was given to the discussion OF pend
ing legislation and other measures for the
benefit Of the farmers. It is impossible
BILE to present anything more than an alb
stract of the proceedings as the debates
would occupy dozen columns.
President Sprague occupied the chair,
and on motion appointed the following
committee on credentials:
j. Diamond, Blue Earth county; w. H.
Brewster, Grant county; A. A. Osborne,
Dakota county; J. Barnard, Pipestone
county; J. j. Bowling, Chicago county.
The report OF the executive committee
was received. 1t showed that for the year
ending Feb /. 1887, the total number OF
charters granted was 1872; county alliances
formed, II; total number OF new organi.
cations. 294. The report OF the treasurer
showed the cash on hama Feb. "a, 1856,
$93.23; received for charters, $35O.85;
dues received, $46.85; sundry receipts,
$13.S5; total receipts, $1,010.7S. Ex-
penditures: Printing, $305.5S; postage
80; travelling expenses Of members Of
executive committee. $36O.17 clerk hire,
SIS; secretary's salary, $50; sundry ex
penses, $33. Is; total expenses $1,O33.85.
1t was voted that the report OF the exec
utive committee be printed.
committee OF seven on constitution was
appointed as follows:
George w. Haigh, Reuben Rarick. w. j.
Botkin, j. N. Jones. w. p. Armstrong
George w. Sprague.
The committee on resolutions appointed
was as follows. by districts:
Flrst-J. J. Furiong j. j. Carson.
Second-J. F. Shoemaker, f. A. Cosgrove.
Third. Donnelly, Daniel Dougherty.
Fourth-John Irwin. s. NJ. Powell.
Fifth. H. Barrett, C. w. Blandenburg
H. Mattson.
The Hon. d. E. Meyers was then intro.
duced and delivered an address.
State Lecturer Hodgson reviewed the
things which had led up to the present
movement OF the farmers.
A resolution was adopted that the ex-
ecutive committee OF the alliance be EN-
powered to treat with a committee from
the knights of Labor. the two forming
joint committee OF conference, the pleasant
relations hitherto existing between the
OF the knights OF Labor were present and
addressed the meeting.
The report OF the committee on constitu-
ton was submitted and read, and as but
one immaterial change had been made a
motion was adopted to pass the report as
a whole by viva voce vote. The change
referred to places the per capita tax OF
members at 30 cents per annum instead
OF so cents.
a., "a Ill
laws were adopted without being read.
they having been reported back by the
committee without change.
Gov. McGill was introduced and made a
few remarks.
President Sprague declined reelection
and nominated Gen. Barrett, who thanked
the convention for the confidence which
the members had shown him.
Eric Olson OF Martin county was elect
ed Secretary.
On motion of Mr.. Donnelly the secretary
was instructed to cast the ballot for Hon.
Charles Canning OF Norman county for
vice president at large.
H. E. Boon OF Otter Tail county was
chosen corresponding secretary without
opposition, and the election of John Dia-
mond of Blue Earth county as treasurer
was made unanimously on motion of Mr..
Donnelly, who urged that Democrat be
given a position in the executive board.
Vice presidents by congressional dis.
tricts, elected by the district alliance, were
reported as follows:
First District-J. j. Furlong, Mower
county.
Second District-Capt. G. w. Haigh, Blue
Earth county.
Third District-F. L. Nichols, Mcleod
county.
Fourth District-Andrew Richmond,
Washington county.
Fifth District-E. II. Atwood, Stearns
county.
J. A. Jones of breckenridge was nominal.
ed as state lecturer, but he refused to a..
low his name to be used, and Thomas c.
Hodgeson OF Grant county was re- elected
by a unanimous vote.
A summary OF the resolutions adopted is
as follows:
THE PLATFORM CONDENSED.
We reiterate the sentimentssas forth one
year ago in our declaration of rights
Thanks are extended to Speaker Merriam
and Lieut.. Gov. Rice for their fair and just
appointment of the committees OF the ryas-
emit legislature. The legislative reforms OF
the past three years are tho lest evidence
that the alliance has not existed in vain,
There shall be at least three local grain in.
spectora, elected by county commissioners,
in each county in the state In which more
than 100. 600 bushels of grain are raised
Annual sessions of the legislature are de-
manded, Only those who prey on the people
reinterested in preventing the people from
assembling annually to make their laws
The so-called protective tariff should be
revised in the interest OF the consuGas, q
large reduction is demanded al she duties
on wooden goods, agricultural supplements,
binding Irvine, and manufactured lumber.
All railroads in the state should hs conn.,
PEELED to. put in track scales at any station
handling or shipping moro than $4,000
bushels of grain, Warehouses should he re-
quired to guarantee weights and grades
and have it so stated on all tickets issued
by parties owning or controlling the same.
The alliance endorses the sentiments OF
Prot. Kiehle that county supayintendents
should be selected because 81 their fitness,
but protest against any bill taking the elec-
ton 81 the superintendent out oil the hands
Of the people. Ordinary country Slevators
should not be bonded, such honding being
q scheme to perEetuAte monopoly. The
wheat receipt Is q delusion and q snAre,
not equivalent to the wheat 10 eight, and
u a club in the haads oi spectators to
depress prices, The railway commission.
era and all their subordinates should be
appointed Tor fitness and not to pay polit-
ical debts. To appoint or depose any
member Of the grain force or theirpeliticat
principles is demoralixing to the pub
lie service. We call upon the legislature to
inquire into the reasons for the inability
al the railroad companies to furnish cars
to shippers from side tracks, and ask for
an investigation as to the so-called wheat
blockade. Whenever railway company
is unabl to furnish all the cara applied
for at any station, the number
FURNISHED shall DO divided equally
among the apalisants at such station, re.
gard,sas 1t Tho number applied for. me
present system OF collecting stAtssstcs Of
farm products works injury so the interests,
OF the farmers. We asR Tor. Its abolition.
The tax law aEauid be revised. The PEN
aittes tar hon:paynent OF taxes orsht not
20 be more than per cent, pan month be-
4 ptc and after sale. A Sax receipt shonla
be 'prima iacie. evidence that she tax has
Been paid Corporate Moperty should
Etsaf its eanal share al the public burdens.
u would be q wise and judicious measure
70 entirely separate the agricultural col
legs from the state university and easab.
lish an institution second to Zone In the
country. where the study OF agricul-
ture should term part OF the
course. Va. are satisfied with the